By Julietta Jameson
TV fame: Murlough Bay and Fair Head in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, where parts of Game of Thrones are shot.Credit: The New York Times
In the year ahead, the drop of the Aussie dollar against the United States currency is likely to have an effect on travel for Australians, while commemorations, such as the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign will galvanise our resolve to pay our respects and reflect on our past and future. We will go to new places, take different routes to get there and demand more authenticity from our holiday experiences.
We will engage, exercise, explore and eat, gluten free, and we will seek to connect more to people and places. In a world of increasing travel possibilities and opportunities, here are 10 of the top trends in tourism for 2015.
1. VALUE FOR MONEY
Testing terrain: New Zealand will continue to be the region's most popular place for adventure and extreme cycling holidays.
As the Australian dollar looks set to continue to fall against the US currency, travel experts say Australians will look for value. Europe will be in demand with the Aussie relatively stable against the euro, but value hunters will go to Asia, not just reliably cheap and cheery Vietnam and Thailand, but also to Sri Lanka.
"Australian visitor statistics to the vibrant, compact island of Sri Lanka are steadily on the increase," says the managing director of Adventure World, Fiona Hunt.
Another destination of perceived value is Japan, says the co-owner of Active Travel, Robert Fletcher, "due to favourable exchange rates, but also the safety, cleanliness, appealing cultural attractions and attractive fares from low-cost carriers".
2. ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
While Heathrow is the traditional Australian entry point to Europe, the proliferation of flights to other European airports, thanks to Qantas' alliance with Emirates and additional airlines adding new routes, means there are alternatives aplenty. This means more use of Frankfurt for Eastern Europe, Zurich for Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Paris, and Manchester as a gateway to England. Despite the Aussie's dip, the US government projects Australian arrivals will rise 25 per cent by 2019. Cathay Pacific notes Australians are looking beyond the traditional routes via the Pacific to get to the US, particularly if they are travelling to the eastern states such as New York and Chicago. It's possible to avoid Los Angeles International Airport and cut down on US domestic services and the inherent exposure to often onerous security measures.
3. HIGH-TECH ON THE HIGH SEAS
Most cruise passengers will tell you the biggest downside of being at sea is lack of good internet. That's set to change with Royal Caribbean leading the way. Expect others to seriously start considering their technology, as Royal Caribbean's latest ship, the spectacular mega-cruiser, Quantum of the Seas, starts operating with unprecedented bandwidth thanks to dedicated satellites launched by technology partner O3b Networks. Royal Caribbean claims Quantum of the Seas has more bandwidth than all other cruise ships combined. With speeds that match fast broadband connections on shore, guests can be online with all their devices, even streaming video and uploading images to social media.
4. MULTI-GENERATIONAL TRAVEL
Family travel has been a strong trend for the past few years. Cashed-up baby boomers celebrating a big birthday or who are keen to spend quality time with the offspring and holiday with the grandchildren might foot the bill. It's a common scenario in cruising particularly. Abercrombie & Kent has noticed bookings for family trips have risen in recent years and expects the trend to continue in 2015. It now offers luxury small group trips for families.
5. PEDAL POWER
The demand for multi-activity adventures and cycling holidays is on the increase. Tasmania will continue to figure in the plans of hardy types, who may love World Expeditions' 2015 Cycle Kayak Walk Northern Tasmania, which contains exactly what's on the packet. Kakadu in the Northern Territory, particularly "Kakadu away from the crowds" packages are top sellers for World Expeditions. New Zealand will continue to be the region's most popular place for adventure and extreme cycling holidays, while active retirees will look to France and Spain for cycling and walking vacations – the attraction of the Camino de Santiago shows no sign of abating.
6. AUTHENTICITY AND ENGAGEMENT
Whether you are going on a cruise, a honeymoon or an escorted tour, the quest for a deeper connection to a place and its people continues to be a strengthening travel goal. P&O notes Papua New Guinea as an increasingly popular cruise destination, while even Tahiti, known for its schmick resorts and distilled paradise experience, is winding back the clock to provide connection. More visitors are taking up the option of staying in pensions, or guest houses, to have a local, connected experience.
7. EXOTIC AUSTRALIA
Whenever the dollar dips, the winner is Australian tourism, and Australians and internationals alike are looking deeper into the catalogue of Aussie experiences. APT has increased its Kimberley coast offering by 400 per cent for 2015, for the first time bringing its own ship, the MS Caledonian Sky, to Kimberley's waters to cater for the demand. Meanwhile, wotif.com notes emerging wine regions, such as Tasmania, will be popular destinations for the surging interest in Australian food and wine trips.
8. GALLIPOLI
During the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign, Turkey will continue to be one of the most in-demand travel destinations for Australians. Tour companies such as Trafalgar will have extra departures visiting places of significance. Others are doing the same. Cruise Express's Legends of the Mediterranean package will cruise the waters off the Turkish coast at dawn on April 25 and the official dawn service ashore will be broadcast on the ship.
9. GAME OF THRONES
With season five of the hit HBO series Game of Thrones airing this year, tourism to the various locations in which it is shot is set to boom. According to international visitor figures, the number of Australians who visited Ireland last year was up more than 20 per cent and this market is on track for another year of double-digit growth, says Creative Holidays' managing director, James Gaskell. Game of Thrones is shot in Northern Ireland, and themed touring is growing apace. Series five will add Spain, Croatia, Malta and Morocco to the list of countries benefiting from Game of Thrones' fandom.
10. NOT JUST THE DANUBE
River and boutique small-ship cruising is a trend unabated, but in 2015, it's evolving. APT is cruising the New England Islands for the first time and the Lower Ganges into rarely travelled West Bengal. Cruises will also be offered in Myanmar on the fabled Irrawaddy. Abercrombie & Kent is looking further afield in the developing destination, taking to the Chindwin River and cruising through jungle towards the Indian border.
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